Pretoria News reports that words with no action behind them will not put an end to the senseless attacks and killings of emergency medical services personnel, their union has said.

Its leaders were responding to a call by Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, for communities to help put an end to continued attacks on emergency services workers responding to calls. Her sentiment followed the attack of two crew members who were shot at on Friday night while responding to a gunshot incident at an informal settlement in Germiston. However, Mpho Mpogeng, president of the South African Emergency Personnel Union, said such statements were not sufficient to stem the wave of attacks on emergency personnel. Mpogeng said words but no action coming from people with the powers to protect workers were a particularly “bitter pill” to swallow. He stated that they were disappointed in that even though they had repeatedly made the call for the protection of workers and had sent through proposals, nothing had been done to date. "We've suggested many things, from procuring bulletproof vests to installing trackers and a dashboard camera, but when we go back to check the progress, we find that nothing has been done. There is a budget for the safety of the workers, but nothing is forthcoming and we just don't know what more needs to happen," Mpogeng lamented.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Goitsemang Tlhabye at Pretoria News

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